Please, Mechanic Charging a lot!!

[BluesBrother]

My mechanic is charging $902 in labor alone to do the following:

1. Transfer cases rear seal and case halves
2. Exhaust leak from gasket
3. Major Tuneup
4. Oil Pan Gasket Leak
5. Timing cover leaking
6. Front Bearing Retainer needs gasket and seal
7. Side Cover gasket leak
8. Left Side Motor Mount

Is this fair? Do I need all of this? Man, I don't want this guy to stick it to me. The engine was rebuilt from the guy who I bought it from but he did not do all of this stuff. go figure....

Please

 

[Front Range 4x4]

Do you have a breakdown of the total?

 

[BluesBrother]

Transfer Case Rear Seal & Case Halves = $82.50

Exhaust Leak = $33.00

Major Tune Up = $71.50

Oil Pan Gasket Leak = $137.50

Timing Cover Leak = $236.50

Front Bearing Retainer Gasket and Seal = $352.00

Side Cover Gasket Leak = $55.00

Left Side Motor Mount = $27.50

This totals over $1,000 but said he would do it for $902.00

Please, is he screwing me?

 

[loeky]

most of those seem fine, but i'll let someone else comment on the front bearing retainer as i'm not familiar with it. 137 to drop and replace the oil pan gasket doesn't seem too bad, considering it's a messy, PITA to do.

hell, a major tune up at toyota was quoted at $550 here in SF.

 

[lowenbrau]

Seems fine.

Consider this though...$900 would have bought the parts, an FSM, some jackstands and a good Craftsman hand tool set. Cruisers are simple and really rewarding to work on yourself.

 

[BluesBrother]

What's an FSM? If not a mechanic, what manual do you recommend?

 

[sportbiker929]

sounds cheap if he is a good wrench

 

[cruiser88]

agree with lowenbrau

 

[import silvia]

Sounds quite reasonable to me. That is quite a bit of work right there and considering a decent Mech gets at least $45 an hour it sounds right to me.

 

[Colorado Boy-74-FJ40]

Oil pan gasket replacement shouldn't be that hard to do. $137.00 ?
Is it an expensive gasket? do you have to remove a cross member to do it? I'm not that familiar with your rig.

 

[lowenbrau]

What's an FSM? If not a mechanic, what manual do you recommend?

Feild
Service
Manual

Look for it on Ebay, download it from Birfield.com, or order it from you favorite dealer. Don't bother with anything but the factory manual. Do one job at a time and search on mud to figure out how to do it. You'll be an expert in no time.

 

[KLF]

Feild
Service
Manual

Umm.... not to be a nit-picker, but

FSM = FACTORY Service Manual

Yeah, eBay is your best bet to get one, unless you have access to a free high speed laser printer.

 

[lowenbrau]

Yeah, what he said.

 

[BluesBrother]

As you guys can tell, I'm not a mechanic. I'm a programmer. So if I have a 1985 FJ60 4 speed stock, what type engine comes with it? What direct link to birfield? Sorry for being an idiot when it comes to this stuff?

 

[Front Range 4x4]

That oil pan leak will probably end up as a replacement, 2.5 - 3 hours shop time iirc. Expect it to be higher than quoted.

 

[Derrick Willis]

As you guys can tell, I'm not a mechanic. I'm a programmer. So if I have a 1985 FJ60 4 speed stock, what type engine comes with it? What direct link to birfield? Sorry for being an idiot when it comes to this stuff?

You have a 2F. Birfield.com is the link being referred to. This is website is an excellent source of info as well Use the search function to look up topics of interest. Best of Luck

 

[fowldarr]

How long ago was the engine rebuilt? If it was recent you shouldn't need a major tune up unless he didn't do it when he put the thing back together. I agree that you should do at least some of the work yourself. A tuneup is not that hard. get the FSM (I have a Haynes, but really the FSM is better), By doing the work yourself you get to know your cruiser and it doesn't become that "POS that is always in the shop"

 

[grant5127]

Should have replaced the rear main seal.. with the pan off & front brg. retainer reseal + need to replace the seal between the trans. & transfer case...

 

[BluesBrother]

Ok. So can someone give me a direct link to the FSM on birfield. I have not clue which one to download. Or can someone email it to me, joehuerta@gmail.com

Thanks guys/gals

 

[2mbb]

You don't mention the year of your rig, but I would try one of the 1984 chasis and body manuals. The Chassis and Body manual covers body and drive train (transmission, transfer case, axles, brakes) but not the engine. The US FJ-60 has the 2F gasoline engine. Birfield.com does not have the 2F engine manual available for down load.

If you're going to get serious about working on your own vehicle, you should have the chasis & body manual, the engine manual and the emissions manual (if you still have emissions). Here's another thread with more information about manuals and how to order them from toyota. Or you can look for them on ebay...Good Luck!